VDR 2.0 for vSphere 4.1 - Management and Licensing

[phykell]

Hi,

Can anyone shed some light on the licensing for VDR 2.0? I've got VMware Essentials Plus which gives me VDR but am I licensed to deploy the 2.0 version which appears under vSphere 5.0?

Also, if I want to use VDR 2.0, do I have to use a new plugin and will that work OK on my 4.1 vSphere client?

Thanks

[MauroBonder]

Might this help  http://partnerweb.vmware.com/comp_guide/sim/interop_matrix.php

Do not show empty rows

	Platform	VMware vCenter Server 5.0	VMware vCenter Server 4.1 U1	VMware vCenter Server 4.1	VMware vCenter Server 4.0 U3	VMware vCenter Server 4.0 U2	VMware vCenter Server 4.0 U1	VMware vCenter Server 4.0	VMware vCenter Server 2.5 U6
	VMware Data Recovery 2.0
	VMware Data Recovery 1.2.1
	VMware Data Recovery 1.2
	VMware Data Recovery 1.1
	VMware Data Recovery 1.0
	VMware Consolidated Backup 1.5 U2
	VMware Consolidated Backup 1.5 U1

[phykell]

Thanks for the fast reply!

That's a bit disappointing then as it looks like I'll need vCenter 5.0 which means migrating to 5.0.

I was hoping for the best when I read the release notes which stated the following: 

VMware Data Recovery 2.0 can be used with:

• VMware vSphere 5.0
• VMware vSphere 4.1 Update 1
• VMware vSphere 4.0 Update 3

Does this mean it works with 4.1, but the licensing doesn't permit its use?

[MauroBonder]

If you check here you can see follow information http://partnerweb.vmware.com/comp_guide/sim/interop_matrix.php

the license is host based. the problem is VDR2.0 only support ESXi5.0

You´ll need upgrade all hosts vSphere 4.X to 5i

	Platform	VMware ESXi 5.0	VMware ESX/ESXi 4.1 U1	VMware ESX/ESXi 4.1	VMware ESX/ESXi 4.0 U3	VMware ESX/ESXi 4.0 U2	VMware ESX/ESXi 4.0 U1	VMware ESX/ESXi 4.0	VMware ESX/ESXi 3.5 U5	VMware ESX/ESXi 3.0.3 U1
	VMware Data Recovery 2.0
	VMware Data Recovery 1.2.1
	VMware Data Recovery 1.2
	VMware Data Recovery 1.1
	VMware Data Recovery 1.0

Please, don't forget the awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers.     Mauro Bonder - Moderator

[Chopper3]

I'm sorry but I'm not sure this is the case, I've got VDR 2.0 running in a purely ESXi/VC 4.1U1 environment, it's stable and I've seen no issues at all.

In fact in the RELEASE NOTES for v2 it specifically states it's supported in 4.1u1. What the tables above show isn't that VDR 2.0 needs ESXi 5.0 but the opposite, that ESXi 5.0 needs VDR 2.0.

You do need to update the plugin however, in fact it's pretty much stage one of the instructions.

[VeyronMick]

It doesn't seem clear regarding the current VDR 2.0 licensing.

There are two documents which are at odds with each other...

One saying ESX 4.0u3, ESX 4.1u1, ESX 5.0.

The other saying ESX 5.0 only.

VDR 2.0 does install and work fine on ESX 4.1u1 but the licensing is still not clear.

[phykell]

It remains to be seen what VMware’s position is on this with regards to licensing but it sounds like VDR 2.0 should work just fine with the new vSphere client plug-in and a 4.1 host.

I guess that as VDR is a virtual appliance, it shouldn’t care about (or know) what host it’s running on, nor should it be concerned with what version of vCenter happens to be administering the infrastructure - after all, the VDR appliance can do everything apart from automated processes without a running instance of vCenter as I understand it.

All that the VDR appliance should know is that it's got a datastore as a target and that it can instruct a host to take a snapshot and then copy a VM. No doubt a VDR previous to 2.0 would not be guaranteed to be able to work with a 5.0 host but it makes sense that a 2.0 VDR should work with a 4.1 host.

[Freaky201110141]

Any news on this?

Since 2.0 supports e-mailing reports we'd really like to use it.

[kattrap]

The vDR 2.0 release notes and admin guide say that ESX 4.0/4.1, vCenter 4.0/4.1 most current update release. I've put in a support request into the licensing area, we'll see what comes of it.

[petedr]

I know it supports ESX/ESXi 4 or later but I am not 100% sure on the licensing side so I'd be interesting in that as well.

Pete

-------

www.liquidwarelabs.com

www.thevirtualheadline.com

[RParker]

phykell wrote:

Thanks for the fast reply!

That's a bit disappointing then as it looks like I'll need vCenter 5.0 which means migrating to 5.0.

I was hoping for the best when I read the release notes which stated the following: 

VMware Data Recovery 2.0 can be used with:

• VMware vSphere 5.0
• VMware vSphere 4.1 Update 1
• VMware vSphere 4.0 Update 3

Does this mean it works with 4.1, but the licensing doesn't permit its use?

I believe that you can argue that since you have licensing, and if you haven't upgraded your hosts licenses to 5.0 but you did upgrade the vCenter license to 5.0 you can use VDR without issue.. and it does work fine with ESX 4.1.  It *MAY* work with the older plug-in, but why risk it.. it takes a whole minute to install / reinstall a new plugin..

[RParker]

Freaky wrote:

Any news on this?

Since 2.0 supports e-mailing reports we'd really like to use it.

An older post already stipulated this..  If you have ESX 4.1 / vCenter 4.0 NOW VDR 2.0 will work.  If you have vSphere 5 (complete) you MUST use VDR 2.0.  ESX 4.1 will work with 1.x or 2.x VDR, but if you move to vCenter 5.0 VDR 2.0 is required.

[RParker]

Pete Del Rey wrote:

I know it supports ESX/ESXi 4 or later but I am not 100% sure on the licensing side so I'd be interesting in that as well.

Pete

-------

www.liquidwarelabs.com

www.thevirtualheadline.com

I think you are over thinking this.. if the document says it's supported on 4.1.. then CLEARLY that means it's FULLY supported (functionally AND licensed)

[VeyronMick]

What I've heard from licensing is that the release notes are accurate.

Its supported on ESX 5.0, ESX 4.1u1 and ESX 4.0u3.

It is licensed for the earlier versions of VC 4.x but you may need a 5.0 license to download it (this issue is being worked on).

I'll check in with someone from licensing on Monday but as far as I know this is the current status with it.

[petedr]

Thats a good point.

[AGF201110141]

Hello,

I would like some information about using VDR 2.0 with ESXi4.1u1.

I have many issues with vdr 1.0.2, some backup failed and i don't know why, that's why i would like to test vdr 2.0.

My Question is : to use vdr 2.0 should upgrade my 4.1 licences to 5.0 in vmware website ? or should i leave my licences informations as it , to make VDR 2.0 works ?

Thanks for your help.

alan

[VeyronMick]

Hi Alan,

You don't need licenses for VDR with vSphere 4.1u1.

It became a free product with that version of vSphere.

[AGF201110141]

Hi,

Thank you for your quick answer, i will try next week to install the new vdr 2.0, hope this will not crash our working system

Kindest regards,

Alan

[pigbloke]

VeyronMick wrote:

Its supported on ESX 5.0, ESX 4.1u1 and ESX 4.0u3.

It is licensed for the earlier versions of VC 4.x but you may need a 5.0 license to download it (this issue is being worked on).

I have vSphere 4.0 licenses (hosts updated to 4.1 update 2) and I can't download vDR 2.0, it says I am not authorised.

I contacted VMWare presales team and they informed me that vDR 2.0 is only available with vSphere 5.0 licenses and I would have to upgrade my license keys to become eligible.

[VeyronMick]

That is not the case, you can install VDR 2.0 on ESX 4.0 and 4.1 environments without the need for ESX 4.0 licenses.

If you have a contract with VMware open a new storage case and the TSE can send you the VDR 2.0 iso.